Draft Senate bill funds CHIP and CMCs, extends Medicare provisions

Just in time to prevent another government shutdown, Senate leaders announced a bipartisan budget bill that includes disaster relief and long-awaited health provisions. Among the health-related provisions in the draft, as posted by CNN, are an extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through fiscal year (FY) 2027 and funding for community health centers (CHCs). Meanwhile, the House passed its own stop-gap spending bill on February 8 that would fund the government through March 23. While the Senate bill is expected to pass in the Senate, it could face opposition in the House.

In addition, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced that the Senate bill provides $6 billion to fund the fight against the opioid and mental health crises. "This will be used for programs and reforms to address mental health care and opioid substance use disorders through prevention, treatment, and recovery programs." It also funds CHCs through FY 2019.

House bill. The House stop-gap bill similarly extends a number of Medicare programs, including the home health rural and ambulance add-ons, and repeals the outpatient therapy cap. However, many House Republicans consider the bill to be "doomed" in the Senate due to issues with defense and nondefense spending levels.